To Weather the Storm [Open]

Acornstem paced back and forth, her tail dragging behind her as she spared nervous glances towards the fresh-kill pile. What was once well stocked had quickly started to drain away and the deputy was left to struggle with what to do. Never before had she imagined such a scenario of being so pressed for food but... When the reports of the patrols she was sending out were finding less and less had started to come in, she had attempted to increase the number of patrols in an effort to keep the prey pile stocked but it had done nothing to help and... She couldn't deny the fear that was clawing her at her stomach - almost hurting as much as the hunger pangs.

What were they to do...? If they were struggling so hard at the start of Leaf-Fall, she feared what Leaf-Bare itself would bring. The number of patrols were slowly dwindling as with a lack of prey to fill their belly, she couldn't in her right mind ask too much of her Clanmates. It was a terrible cycle as the lack of prey would make it harder to have the energy and strength to catch what little prey they could find. How desperate would they become...? Would they or another Clan threaten the peace when the rumbling of their stomachs became too much to bare when neither would have the strength to truly fight?

Where things just going to get worse...?

She hung her head as she came to a stop, staring down at her paws. She felt...She felt so useless! She couldn't just wish the prey back but she wasn't sure what to do - rationing the prey would only go so far if they couldn't find more to keep up with the demand and their Clan was so big, not even considering the mixed blood apprentices. There had been hope that at least they would be warriors by leaf-bare to help keep up with the amount of prey they would need but how much of ThunderClan would even be left by then...? Would they starve? Be forced to look elsewhere for food? It was so early and yet there was so much uncertainty and fear.

She wanted to be the best deputy she could but she didn't know what to do! Mottlestar didn't know what to do... Did anybody know what to do?

She knew the best she could do was try to be there for her Clanmates, to assure them that their fears and uncertainty were heard and they would weather this storm but... It was hard to make such a lofty promise when there was no solution to be given...

Acornstem sank onto her haunches, a heavy sigh escaping her. She just hated letting her Clanmates down....

Blazefang padded over to her fretting deputy and sat down beside her. “Hey,” she mewed, staring off into space. “It’s been rough lately, hasn’t it? You know what, though? ThunderClan’s a family. I’ve seen cats in, ahem, other clans turn on each other for far less than we’re dealing with now. I don’t know if we’ll be okay any more than you do, but we can at least count ourselves fortunate to live among friends.” She sighed, turning to look at Acornstem. “Sorry if I’m intruding, you just looked like you needed some company.”

The growing famine that had fallen upon the forest was all Silverkit had ever known. The hunger pangs that plagued her and her clanmates was just a pain that silverkit assumed was natural. Silverkit was naturally lean, but the continuing hunger had quickly chased away her kitten fat, and with her prickly fur and long limbs they were left looking stranger than most.

At 3 moons old, the curiosity that all kits possessed had urged her out of the nursery and into the biting cold of leaffall. Her blue eyes scoured the camp, eagerly taking it all in. Eventually they landed on a huddle of cats. Gingerly, she padded forward, ears pricked in interest to the conversation they were having.

Upon arriving at their huddle, a sense of awkwardness took hold of her. Were they welcome here? Her eyes flitted between the cats, unsure of her next move.

Bluepaw went over to join the group and looked at all of them with wide eyes. He was already bad at hunting and the harsh season famine had not helped with his confidence or hunting ability at all.

He felt like he had let Goldenfern his mentor down. He said he was gonna catch her a meal but never had gotten a chance too.

Maybe he could still? If one of them would be willing to go out hungitn with him... He probably would fail again like he always did.

He shuffled on his paws unsure of who to even ask for that. He looked to Acorn since she was deptuy after all